Richard C. “Dick� Rung

Richard C. “Dick” Rung

Richard C. “Dick” Rung, age 100, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL, passed away on Friday, May 23,2025. He was born September 24, 1924 in Buffalo, NY to Edward & Ella Rung.

Dick attended Burgard Vocational High School and upon graduation was drafted into the US Navy in July 1943. He was trained as a Deisel Engine mechanic and was assigned to the LCT 539 as a Motor Machinist Mechanic. Dick was part of the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion, landing at Omaha Beach at 7:31 AM. He then stayed 5 months in Normandy before being transferred to the Pacific theater and eventually participated in the occupation of Japan. He was honorably discharged March 22, 1946.

Shortly after returning to Buffalo, Dick started dating Dorothy (Dot) Hoff and in March 1949 they were married…spending 76 wonderful years of marriage and partnership. Dick went to Gordon College, graduating in 1953 with a BA and earning a Master of Arts in History from Boston University. He then taught Social Sciences and was Dean of Students at Kings College from 1955 to 1963. In 1963 he joined Wheaton College and taught history and Political Science for 27 years. For many of those years he took groups of students on summer European Seminars for both Wheaton and Gordon…including taking groups to Eastern Europe and Russia as early as 1977. Dick had student yearbooks dedicated to him at both Kings (1963) and Wheaton (1968). He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1991. After retirement Dick volunteered in a number of local charities and taught Sunday School classes at College Church, Oak Lawn Covenant Church and Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Dick and Dot lived in Covenant Living at Windsor from 2005 until his passing and here he took up oil painting and painted more than 50 early Americana scenes and historical sailing ships. He went back to Normandy with Best Defense Foundation the last 3 years and at last year’s 80th Anniversary of D-Day French President Macron presented Dick with the French Legion of Honor Award.

He is survived by his children Judy (Carl) Pickard and Richard E. Rung, his grandchildren Jennifer Brzosowicz, Mara Pickard & Bryan (Katie) Pickard and Tiffany (Mike Jeffries) Rung & Megan Cournoyer; and his 6 great grandchildren Kailynn, Addison, Kekai, Marley, Harper & Dorothy. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy H. “Dot” and older brothers Edward Rung and Paul Rung.

A visitation will be held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 29W260 Batavia Rd., Warrenville, IL 60555, on Friday, June 6th from 2 PM until the service at 3 PM. A private interment will be held at Wheaton Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Best Defense Foundation at bdf.org or by mail to 249 HWY 101 Suite 312, Solana Beach, CA 92075